Poor use of nets derails malaria war in Africa

[Guest guest]

Poor use of nets derails malaria war in Africa

By JOY WANJA

jwanja@...

Posted Wednesday, January 26 2011 at 21:35

Pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa remain at risk of malaria due to poor use

of treated mosquito nets.

According to a study published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases Journal

insecticide-treated nets are not being fully utilised to protect pregnant women

from malaria.

However, Prof Bob Snow of the Malaria Public Health and Epidemiology Group at

the Kemri-Wellcome Trust Research Programme noted that Kenya had made

considerable progress to contain the disease among vulnerable groups.

" Kenya had commendably begun implementing the distribution of insecticide

treated nets to pregnant women and children under five through maternal and

child health clinics, " added Ms Viola Kirui, a researcher at the Kemri-Wellcome

Trust.

She added: " We however need to scale up these efforts if we intend to meet and

surpass the targets set in the new Kenyan National Malaria Strategy. "

The researchers further noted that a decade after the Abuja declaration to cut

Africa's malaria burden, majority of endemic countries in sub-Sahara Africa had

adopted the use of treated nets and preventive treatment.

As a preventive measure, an effective anti-malarial drug should be provided to

pregnant women in highly endemic malaria zones as a routine part of antenatal

care.

Threat to children

In Kenya, 92 children under the age of five contract malaria every day. The

2008/2009 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey indicates mortality for

under-five-year-olds declined by 36 per cent since 2003.

In many parts of the world, malaria parasites have developed resistance to a

number of medicines, necessitating more stringent measures to deal with the

disease.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Poor%20use%20of%20nets%20derails%20malaria%20war%20\

%20/-/1056/1096538/-/gyas3jz/-/index.html

[Guest guest]

Poor use of nets derails malaria war in Africa

By JOY WANJA

jwanja@...

Posted Wednesday, January 26 2011 at 21:35

Pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa remain at risk of malaria due to poor use

of treated mosquito nets.

According to a study published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases Journal

insecticide-treated nets are not being fully utilised to protect pregnant women

from malaria.

However, Prof Bob Snow of the Malaria Public Health and Epidemiology Group at

the Kemri-Wellcome Trust Research Programme noted that Kenya had made

considerable progress to contain the disease among vulnerable groups.

" Kenya had commendably begun implementing the distribution of insecticide

treated nets to pregnant women and children under five through maternal and

child health clinics, " added Ms Viola Kirui, a researcher at the Kemri-Wellcome

Trust.

She added: " We however need to scale up these efforts if we intend to meet and

surpass the targets set in the new Kenyan National Malaria Strategy. "

The researchers further noted that a decade after the Abuja declaration to cut

Africa's malaria burden, majority of endemic countries in sub-Sahara Africa had

adopted the use of treated nets and preventive treatment.

As a preventive measure, an effective anti-malarial drug should be provided to

pregnant women in highly endemic malaria zones as a routine part of antenatal

care.

Threat to children

In Kenya, 92 children under the age of five contract malaria every day. The

2008/2009 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey indicates mortality for

under-five-year-olds declined by 36 per cent since 2003.

In many parts of the world, malaria parasites have developed resistance to a

number of medicines, necessitating more stringent measures to deal with the

disease.

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Poor%20use%20of%20nets%20derails%20malaria%20war%20\

%20/-/1056/1096538/-/gyas3jz/-/index.html